The Washington critic., 1887-02-09
MRS. CLEVELAND AND THE TEN
PERANCE QUESTION.

In his speech at Blltimore the other
night upon The Great Question of the
Age" eN Governor ST. John stated
that "lhis year there were twenty
three words alludiug TO the liquor trlf-
tic in the Presidents Message, and
that was twenty three words more than
ever appeared before IN similar docu'
ment." 1t does not follow that Prcsi'
dent Cleveland is twenty three times rs
good a temperance man Us any Of his
predecessors, but It shows that the
Question is catching on in places
where It has hitherto been stranger
and ignored.
If anything were needed, however,
to demonstrate the leaning Of the
present Administration towards the
temperance cause, we have only to
point to the admirable example set in
Ills respect by the totally absti rent
mistress of the White House, who,
without the least trace of fanaticlsm
or intolerance, occupies the plain,
common sense position that the drink
ing Of intoxicating liquors Is neither n
nice thing to do nor to encourage.
The young woman in soCiety-espe.
ciOlly the young woman at the head of
society in Washington-who rcsolutely
sets her face against all forms and de.
gress OF inebriety, deserves well of her
country. Mrs. Cleveland's opportunity
which she so unobtrusiyely but effect.
lively utilizes, involves a power for
good that is vouchsafed to few Others If
any of her sex, and her exemplary course
cannot fail to exert wonderfully
restraining influence where such
restraint is particularly to be desired
The dizzy tendencies of the social
whiil at the Capital need some such
check and counterbalance, and coming
from so high and commanding quar-.
ter the most wholesome results are
certain TO follow.
\ drinking woman at the head of
the Executive Mansion would be q
public calamity for the reason that the
wife of the President Is in no small
degree pattern of public morals or
finds wide acceptance as such In fash.
ionable circles. 1t is the easiest thing
in the world for young men and
women, addicted to the milder forms
Of social dissipation and carrying no
great amount of moral or intellectual
ballast, to be led by conspicuous ex-
aEple of free and easy tippling, into
its more pernicious indulgences So.
ciety at the National Capital is there.
fore to be congratulated upon having
thus constantly before It the emb)dt,
ment of sound womauly principles,
as well as of the sweetest wonanly
graces that Mrs. Cleveland unquos.
tiOnably is.
We trust that the readers of The
CRITIc will not clnsiTuc our remarks
into q homily upon temperance. This
is point concerning which we eXer-
else and permit the widest latitude of
opinion, hut 1t is certainly fortunate
thing for great many peculiarly sus.
ceptible and easily persuaded people in
Washington and elsewhere that the
Presidents wife holds out no induce
ments and extends no invitations t.
daily with the dangers of the wne.cur
or punch.bowl. She is setting q good
fashion, and good people will unani
mously sustain her in it. She has gone
about 1t, too, with so little parade, with
such an absence of profession or pre-
tension, with what might be called sucl
artless and sincere diplomacy, that sh,
is all the more to be credited for tht
brave stand she has taken on the sid,
OF sobriety.